Klingberg History Museum
Wall murals depicting the 68-year history of Klingberg Family Centers as an orphanage in New Britain, Connecticut
Klingberg Family Centers began in 1903 when Rev John Klingberg, who emigrated to the United States from Sweden, rescued 3 orphans that were found living in a run down shack in New Britain, Connecticut. The residence he established operated as an orphanage until 1971.
Klingberg has the most extensive archives on orphan life in America, including photography, films, diaries, letters, and hours of interviews with former residents. When Klingberg Family Centers decided to create a museum about its history as an orphanage I was asked to create two wall murals to tell that unique and moving story.
The catch-all room before it was transformed into the museum.
A 3D model of the room was created to help the staff decide on wall and carpet colors.
In searching the web for support material I was able to find images of period currency, tickets to a local amusement park, and even a map of Sweden dated the year John Klingberg was born.
The first wall mural covering the years from John Klingberg's birth in 1867 to the laying of the cornerstone of what is now Klingberg Family Centers in the early 1920s. The mural measures 21ft wide by 9ft high.
Detail of the first mural.
This second mural takes the viewer through 5 decades, ending with the shift to a center for treatment services in 1971.
Detail from the second mural.